Health & Wellness
Study Shows Surge in Preventive Care Visits in the US, Leading to Positive Patient-Physician Relationships and Improved Healthcare Outcomes
Over the past two decades, there has been a surge in preventive care visits in the United States, according to a study published in Health Affairs. This trend is a positive sign for patient-physician relationships and overall healthcare outcomes. The study analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, showing that the proportion of visits focused on preventive services nearly doubled from 12.8% in 2001 to 24.6% in 2019.
The Affordable Care Act enacted policies that made preventive exams a unique visit type with no copay for Medicare and most other insurance plans. This led to increased preventive visits for patients aged 18 to 44 years shortly after passing the law. This increase is attributed to the Affordable Care Act’s policies, though other factors within the healthcare system could have influenced the impact of these policies.
Physicians spent significantly more time with patients during preventive visits than problem-based visits. They were more likely to provide counseling, order preventative labs, or recommend a preventive image or procedure during these exams. This extended time allows for a deeper understanding of the patient’s social determinants of health, ultimately aiding in care decisions.
The study also emphasizes the positive impact of preventive visits on physician-patient relationships. Longitudinal relationships between doctors and patients have been linked to lower patient costs and hospitalizations, improving overall healthcare outcomes. However, the study’s limitation is that it only evaluated trends through 2019, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care access and preventive visits remains to be seen.
Regarding the Affordable Care Act, there has been a court ruling that could have potential widespread effects on preventive care around the nation. Health insurance plans are no longer required to cover the costs of some preventive care screenings provided to patients for free. This ruling affects the tests recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which the judge said needed to be adequately appointed under federal law because the independent Task Force is not part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
However, Task Force Chairman Michael J. Barry, MD, said that this court ruling won’t change the focus of the USPSTF, which is an independent panel that recommends clinical preventive services for primary care physicians. The USPSTF is deeply committed to improving people's health nationwide by making evidence-based recommendations that help clinicians and patients decide which preventive services are right for them.
Source:
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00270?journalCode=hlthaff
